By the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH

Scott Weaver, recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on arthropod-borne viruses, is the featured speaker at the Sonia Stupnikder Isard Lecture, presented by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Weaver, who is leading a team of researchers studying the Zika virus, will speak May 16 at the college, the oldest medical society in the United States. His topic is “Zika Virus: History, Emergence of Neurologic Disease and Threat to the Americas.” Weaver is director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Sollenberger commencement speaker in Illinois

Donna Sollenberger, UTMB Health System CEO, will be the commencement speaker at her alma mater, the University of Illinois at Springfield. Sollenberger, who joined the medical branch in 2009, will deliver her speech in Springfield on May 14. Sollenberger has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in literature from UIS.

Health policy dialogues

Dr. Larissa J. Estes, a program director at the Prevention Institute in Oakland, Calif., will speak at noon April 27 about “Accountable Communities for Health — An Emerging Model for Health System Transformation.” The presentation will be in the Levin Hall dining room on the medical branch campus in Galveston. For information, email Becky Trout, rltrout@utmb.edu.

Remember parking has changed at Galveston campus

Visitors to hospitals on the Galveston Campus should now park in the hospital garage, located in front of the new Jennie Sealy Hospital. The garage can be approached via Sixth Street from either Harborside Drive or Market Street. The garage is for John Sealy Hospital and Jennie Sealy Hospital. The garage previously used by visitors, located at Market and Eighth streets, has become employee parking. Other public parking areas, including the garage located on Harborside Drive adjacent to the Emergency Room and UTMB Health Clinics and the surface lot in front of the Primary Care Pavilion on Harborside, remain open to patients and visitors.

Development Board

Members of the UTMB Development Board met last week on the Galveston Campus and heard presentations from executives, physicians and researchers. The Development Board plays a key role in the medical branch’s efforts to broaden its base of philanthropic support by serving as local, regional, national and international ambassadors.